Denture making appliance



Sept. 16, 1952 J. M. CRAIG-O DENTURE MAKING APPLIANCE Filed April 21', 1950 s 'IIIIIIIA'II III/I INVENTOR. J11. C'i'aq'g'a Patented Sept. 16 1952 DENTURE MAKING APPLIANCE John M. 'Crai'go, East Hartford,-Conn. Application April 21, 1950, Serial No. 157,312

. 1 This invention relates to dentistry and more particularly to improved means or appliance em- 11 Claims.

ployed inthe making of complete upper and lower dentures.

An object of the invention is to provide improved arch bite rims which may be mountedon the base plate for taking the bitesfor making upper and lower completedentures. h V

Aieature of importance ofthe inventionis I that with the bite blocks and arch rims in place within the patients mouth a natural. and masticating or grinding bite may be obtained with the jaw at the proper distance and in its natural position with the bite rims secured to the blocks the positions of the teeth on the denture can be accurately determined. r I I Another object oi the invention is to provide arch rims having flexible anterior portions ,enabling the rims to be bent to conform to the various curvatures of the gumiormations- Another object or the invention is to form the bite rims toappro'ximately the finishedldenture so that they can be mounted on any standard articulator' during whichthe denturesmay be completed. With the base plates and thearch rims in place in the mouth, later excursions, protrusions and retrusions are established, Also as the arch rims are curved'to conform to the curve of spee and are inclined from buccal to lingual curves, the-full outline of the distal planes can be fully and accurately established. 7

And finally it isan object to provide fortemporarily retaining the bite rims in any of several adjusted positions so that the lower bite rim may protrude or retrude or be in substantial alignment with the upper bite rim, all positions being in proper medial relation.

With the above and other objects in view the invention may include the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompany ing drawing. v j I In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part'of this specificatiom'l have shown the invention embodied irrsimple forms of metalbite rims for-complete upper and lower dentures, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise'embodied and that'the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope-of the invention, the claims appended to this specificationbeing relied upon for that purpose. a

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation'in section of the'upper and-lower arch bite rims inposition within a patients. mouth "and mounted on their base;

V v 2 Fig. 2 is a side elevation" in section withthe arch bite rims on their base plates andin-po'sition within an articulator of standard or usual form; v

n Fig. 3 is a rear sectional view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 2 taken on the plane of line 1 3-3 and after the dentures havebeen completed;

Figs. 4 and 5 are top and bottom views respec- V tivelyof'the bite rim for mounting on the lower base plate or bite block; I

Figs. Sand '7 are top and bottom views respectively of the bite rim for mounting on the upper base'plate or bite block;

Figsf8, 9 and 10 are side elevations of the bite rims in different relative positions of ad justment, and

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of wedge shaped shims in place on the lower bite rim.

In the above mentioneddrawing, there has been shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may bemade within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

In the making of complete upper and lower dentures it is essential that a natural bite be obtained with both the upper and lower bite blocks in position within the patients mouth prior to the insertion of teeth in the dentures. The bite blocks therefore, according to the present invention. are rimmed with flexible metal members forming arch bite rims so that with the upper and lower bite blocks in'position the bite rims are in contact with each other substantially throughout their adjacent surfaces. The lateral and longitudinal curvatures of the contactin'g' surfa ces of the arch'bite rims conform to the natural bite of the patient and hold the jaw properly for masticating movements and with the distance of the j aw properly Spaced fr Om the upper portions of the mouth. During the taking oi'the bite the patient laterally'moves the jaw as in mastication with a grinding action with the bite rims pressed firmly together. by the jaw muscles. Adjustments of the rims can be made by building up with wax the spaces between the rims and their blocks until a comfortable and natural bite is obtained by the patient and so that the adjacent surfaces are in contact throughout their areas. When this natural bite has been obtained the adjacent surfaces of the bite rims'will be in the position of the distal surfaces of the teeth to befitted'to the dentures. The adjacent surfaces'of the bite rams" OFFICE rims will conform to the curve of spee and will be in proper medial relation.

Referring to the figures of the drawing and first to Figs. 4 and 5, the lower arch rim I is shown detached from its bite block [2. This rim ID as seen in these figures is in the form of an arch conforming generally to the outline of the lower mandible. The arch bite rim l0 may be made of a relatively soft metal such as silver or an alloy of copper and tin, etc. to permit bending to conform the arch to the shape of the mouth. As the anterior portion is narrow, it

may be flexed to conform the posterior portion to the jaw formation. The lateral portions 14 are widened and have edge flanges Hi to partially surround and enclose the built-up wax formation of the bite block when the rim 'IB is mounted on its block. The opposite side portions of the rim are curved as shown along their length and laterally are pitched at any normal oblique angles as from 20 to 33. To vary this oblique angle a wedge shaped shim [8 may be positioned on and secured to the lower arch rim as shown in Fig. 11. These shims 18, but one of which is shown, may be of any angle from say 5 to l5. The curve along their length known as the curve of spee and the lateral curvature permits'protrusion and retrusionof the jaw by the patient during the fitting operation.

The upper arch rim 20 shown in Figs. 6 and '7 is generally similar to the lower-arch rim H3 and is flexible to an extent necessary to be adjusted to properly contact the lower rim along mating surfaces. This rim 20 is curved along its length on opposite sides and laterally is pitched to fit closely to the lower rim [0 with or without a shim ['8 as may be necessary. As shown in the figures, the lateral or posterior portions of the rims have substantially flat but somewhat obliquely pitched areas in the portions to be occupied by-the molars. These posterior portions on account of their width are not appreciably flexible. The anterior portions of the rims, however, which are in the place occupied b the incisors' may be flexed readily to fit the rims into proper relation to the jaw formations.

' The upper rim 2!! has pins 22 set firmly therein, one on each side and preferably at the forward part of the posterior or molar portion, the extended ends of the pins being pointed as shown. On the lower rim l0 are a'number of small holes 24 on each side so positioned that the pins 22 may enter in several spaced positions. Three sets of openings 24 in the lower rim [0 are shown. With the pins 22 in any one pair of holes 2A the rims i0 and 26 may have the relative positions as shown in Fig. 9; that is, the anterior portions of the rims may be in substantial vertical alignment. By making use of the anterior or posterior pairs of holes the lower rim may be protruded or retruded by an amount determined by the spacing of the holes.

In operation the impressions are taken in the then removed and securely waxed together without disturbingthe adjustment. When securely fastened the arch rim and base plate are reinserted in the mouth with the upper arch rim seated to the lower arch rim by the interlocking pins. The upper base plate is then inserted and the upper arch rim temporarily waxed to the upper base plate. The patient can then close the jaw to the proper height. The upperand lower base plates with their arch rims in place are then removed while held together by the pins 22 and the upper arch rim securely fastened to its base plate by completing the application of wax to the space between the base and rim.

With the upper and lower base plates with their rims securely held to their base plates reusual manner and models made of the lower and upper jaw areas. From these models base plates are made in the usual manner. The lower arch rim is then temporarily waxed to the lower base plate with its distal surface adjusted by compression of the wax to the correct height and to the median line of the mouth. This ma be done with the base plate in the patients mouth. Also at this time the posterior portions of the rim can be'fitted to the base plate by flexing the anterior portion of the rim. The base plate with the arch rim temporarily held together by the wax is inserted in the -mouth with the pins removed,

lateral excursion as well as the protrusion and retrusion can be checked. The pins are then reinserted in the upper arch rim and entered into thev holes provided in the lower arch rim. -The combined upper and lower assembledplates and rims can then be mounted in an articulator of any standard form and the dentures completed in the usual manner.

Fig. 2 shows the members mounted in a hinged articulator with the rims directly in alignment with each other. With the articulator adjusted by its screw 38 the distance between the base plates can be maintained and the teeth built in to properly mate with the distal surface of the opposite arch rim. Preferably the upper base plate is first fitted with its teeth in the usual manner and so that their distal edges and surfaces contact the lower arch rim. This isdone after re moving the arch rim and Wax from the upper base plate. The lower base plate can then have its teeth fltted to properly align with those of the upper teeth..

I claim as my invention: 1., A dental arch rim having a flexible anterior portion and relatively rigid posterior portions on opposite sides thereof, said posterior portions conforming to the curve of spee and disposed at an oblique angle to each other, and continuous interior and exterior flanges extending around the periphery of said bite rims.

2. A dental arch bite rim having a flexible anterior portion, widened posterior portions on opposite sides thereof, and continuous flanges formed along the edges of said posterior and anterior portions.

3. A dental arch bite rim having a narrow flexible anterior portion and widened posterior portions conforming to the curve of spee and inclined at oblique angles to each other and rearwardly extending laterally wedge shaped shims mounted on and fitting said posterior portions.

4. A dental arch bite rim having a central flexible anterior portion and posterior portions on opposite sides thereof, said posterior portions forming a distal platform, andv wax retaining flanges formed on the oppositeedges of said lateral portions, said flanges being extended across the anterior portion to reinforce said central portion.

5. A pair of dental arch bite rims having -nar row anterior portions and widened posterior portions, said rims having interfitting members to retain said rims in a plurality of relatively adjusted positions.

6. A pair of dental arch bite: rims having narrowanterior portions and widened posterior portions, one of said rims having'pins outstanding from the front end of said posterior portions,

the opposite rim having pairs of openings formed therein, whereby said rims may be retained in various adjusted relative forward and rearward positions.

'7. A pair of dental arch bite rims having narrow flexible anterior portions and widened posterior portions on opposite sides thereof, said rims conforming to the upper and lower distal platform respectively of a denture and flanges formed on said posterior portions to form wax retaining depressions, said flanges being continued around the anterior portions to reinforce said rim.

8. A pair of dental arch bite rims having narrow flexible anterior portions and widened posterior portions on opposite sides thereof, said rims conforming to th upper and lower distal platform respectively of a denture, and interengaging means to retain said rims in several adjusted relative positions.

9. A pair of dental arch bite rims having narrow flexible anterior portions and widened posterior platform portions on opposite sides thereof, said platform portions being curved to conform to each other, and flanges formed along the opposite edges of said posterior portions.

10. A pair of dental arch bite rims having narrow flexible anterior portions and widened posterior platform portions on opposite sides thereof, said platform portions being curved to conform to each other, flanges formed along the opposite edges of said posterior portions and inter-engaging means to retain said rims in relatively adjusted positions.

11. A pair of dental arch bite rims having narrow flexible anterior portions and widened posterior platform portions on opposite sides thereof, said platform portions being curved to conform to each other, flanges formed along the opposite edges of said posterior portions and pins outstanding from opposite sides of one of said rims and entering openings formed in the opposite rim.

JOHN M. CRAIGO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 650,464 Hough May 29, 1900 760,295 Allen May 1'7, 1904 1,669,335 I-Iighkin May 8, 1928 2,255,267 Moran Sept. 9, 1941 2,310,360 Fischer Feb. 9, 1943 2,423,005 Chaiken June 24, 1947 

